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DIY: Upcycled Tiki Torch
There's no shame in admitting you have a few empty wine bottles lying around your home. Chances are, if you're like me, you see a million cool ideas for wine bottle crafts on Pinterest and have to do them all. Then months go by, and you end up having a stack of wine bottles completely untouched. (I currently have 3 boxes full of empty wine bottles... but for a wedding DIY!)
A highlight of my Saturday morning is cuddling on the couch with my daughter, drinking a cup (or pot) of coffee and watching The Kitchen on Food Network. The recipes are simple, the banter is delightful, and I love seeing the cocktails they make... because well... cocktails! And occasionally, I see a crafty thing that I love. Rarely do I remember them, but one in particular stuck. The cast was going around describing their wine bottle DIY project. They were all simple - a cheese plate, decorative vase, and my favorite, a tiki torch.
In Maryland, no matter where you live, summertime brings a plethora of flying bugs to ruin any outdoor experience. Me, not being a fan of nature in general, googled a million ways to keep bugs away when you're dining outside or catching some rays. Citronella and lemongrass were the two key ingredients to keeping bugs away. I had to get some of that!
This tiki torch is a cute, decorative table accent, while providing a great service. It's super simple and is super inexpensive to make.
Supplies
2 Empty wine bottles
Tiki Torch replacement wicks
2 - 3/8" copper coupling
electrical tape
gravel or stones
citronella tiki torch fuel
1. Fill the wine bottles about halfway full of gravel or stone. This will displace the fuel so you don't need as much. It also helps weight the bottle down so it won't blow over.
2. Pour torch lighter fuel into the bottle.About 3/4 full.
3. Wrap the electrical tape around the coupling until it fits snug in the wine bottle top.
4. Slide the wick through the coupling and let the wick soak in the fuel for at least 30 minutes before using.
Please note this is for outdoor use only.
In just a few steps, you'll be able to stop wine-ing about bugs and enjoy your time outdoors with company!
xoxo
-k